Never Encountered Before Housebreaking Problem!

[mariposa37]

Low Fiber Dog Food

No food dish grazing here! The dogs are feed twice a day--at 7 A.M. and 5 P.M. and they tell us when it is time. Laddie is small, weighing only 14 lbs. Right now he gets a scant 1/3 cup of Purina One, which is what the Missouri Humane Society sent us home with.

Elaine K.

 

[mbfrench]

Humm..you are in a quandry!

I think what everyone else has said,is most likely the problem. He has been cage for so long,he know nothing else but to deficate in close quarters. He had no choice before. And since he is older,it may take just as long to build confidance in him,that there are more acceptable places to go.

I can only imagine his confusion really. And I hear despair in your posts. He is just going to take time really.Lots of love & patience.

As for food choices,there are many threads here. I am not going to touch on food choices,as we recently after 3 years of having a food that our clan loved,is now under recall issues with manufacturer. So we recently had to switch.

But there are many grain free foods avaliable. Just go slow in transition,as it will send a belly in a whirlwind,when all they have eaten is fillers.

 

[Jaynie]

Since Laddie is a little guy, he may need to go more often. My Neechee always needed to go 4 times a day. I also made a big mistake when he was a puppy - he was allowed to go on concrete. BIG MISTAKE. He would always try to "sneak" off and poop in some unauthorized non-grassy area.

Is it just my dogs, or does anyone else have that whole "grass must not touch my belly fur" going on with their Shelties?

My puppy mill rescue, Bela, spent her first five years as a puppy mill mama. She had so little confidence that for the first six months, she didn't bark, whine, or wag her tail. When we got the second dog, she almost immediately fell into the strange routine of being a house dog. Plus, she took up barking as a hobby - but still isn't as barky as my other Sheltie was (he was professional-grade).

She also had a LOT to learn about potty training. Sheltie Rescue had had her in foster care for about six weeks I think, when I got her, and though she was mostly trained, until she got used to us and our daily routine, she had a lot of accidents - like you say, immediately after coming inside, inside her crate, and near the big water dish. I'd love to be able to say I had a sure-fire method for stopping her behavior, but I don't. I just developed a strict routine of taking the girls out every 4-6 hours (matched on my medication schedule). As of today, we have completed our second month of clean floors!

 

[BarbV]

This is a quandary for sure!

Normally, we would say crate the dog, but unfortunately that won't work in your situation because as a puppy mill dog he was always crated, and therefore had no choice about where he pooped.

All I can suggest is that you keep the pup close by you as much as possible, even if you have to attach him to a leash to your belt. And just like a puppy, keep alert for any of those signals that suggest he is about to "go". Then scoop him up, bring him out to finish his business and praise and treat. It will take time, just like with a puppy.

You also mentioned the number of times per day. Did your vet give an "all clear" on worms, etc?

On the food front, Purina One is not the best of foods. It is generally considered to be relatively inefficient, as a result dogs tend to poop out more than they digest. This might be the reason for the number of poos per day.

When all else fails, and I really hate to suggest this because its a last resort, you can consider puppy pads. At least it might encourage pooping in one spot....and then you can gradually move the pad outdoors, then remove it altogether.

 

[mellie]

Try taking taking some of Laddie's bm outside to the area you want him to use.If he is going as soon as you come in from outside he may be getting the idea that he needs to go but is used to going in his crate.Don't allow him to go in his crate when he comes in from outside-but keep him with you and maybe you will catch him in the act and can then take him outside and have a party for going outside. Keeping on a leash tied to your waist really helps dogs to tune into their person and allows you to monitor behavior too. You are so kind to rescue this little guy, I am sure he will pick up on what you want from him before you know it. Also-leash walking for all toileting.

 

[Jaynie]

I found that this is one of the hardest things to do about rehabbing a puppy mill dog. It's easier with the younger ones, but with one over the age of about 2 years, it gets increasingly difficult.

Bela, after having lived here almost a year now, still does not have full run of the house. For a while, I could not bear to crate her except at night - just the thought of crating her would bring tears to my eyes. She did well with that, so long as she was confined to the master bedroom. She is now comfortable in the den as well, and tends to stay in either the den or master bedroom, depending on which level of the house I am on. She still cannot be trusted loose on the kitchen/great room/dining room level - I think the tall ceiling and a faint echo may make her uneasy. If we are in the great room watching TV, I'll have her attached to my belt or she will go to the doorway between the great room and the dining room, and pee, even if she's just been out. (And I have cleaned this area REPEATEDLY).

I've never free-fed, but still have had these issues with my puppy mill mama. I think that time is probably the best cure, as long as you are consistent with him.